NO2 spatial distribution, and trends over the guatemalan territory, between 2005 and 2021, using OMI data

Abstract

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) generates adverse effects on health and the environment, which is why monitoring of its environmental concentrations is required. NO₂ is produced during the electricity generation process. In the case of Guatemala, the monitoring network is limited, which makes it difficult to determine its trend and spatial distribution. The seasonality and trends of tropospheric NO₂ concentrations in the Guatemalan territory between 2005 and 2021 are analyzed using satellite observations from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). From the preliminary analysis, three regions were identified. For each region, the presence of periodicity and trend in the observations was determined. Although there is a general decreasing trend in NO₂ abundance throughout the territory, there are areas in the country where the gas concentration increases over the study period. The highest levels of NO₂ were observed in the region where electricity generation industries (from fossil fuels and biomass) and the sugar industry are located. Forest fires, despite being abundant in a large part of the Guatemalan territory during the late dry season, do not have a significant influence on the abundance of NO₂ in the country.